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Apr 30 2012

US, Bulgarian Air Forces conduct Thracian Star 2012 drill

The US and Bulgarian Air Forces are jointly conducting the exercise Thracian Star 2012, aimed to strengthen the bilateral relationship and to increase interoperability between Nato allies at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base, Bulgaria.

During the bilateral training exercise, US Air Force's (USAF) 555th and 510th Fighter Squadrons F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots will participate in missions alongside Bulgarian MiG-21, MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter aircraft and SU-25 aircraft as well as units of anti-aircraft troops.

The allied nation's pilots will perform close air support, air combats with fighter aircraft, tactical interceptions, and combat manoeuvres aimed at overcoming the air defence, defensive counter air and large force missions during the drill.

555th FS F-16 pilot Captain Bryan Faughn said: "We are performing the same mission sets we do at home station, but we are integrating the Bulgarian pilots into the training."

Pilots will also conduct ride-along flights in the counterpart's jets to gain insight into both the tactics of the pilots and the capabilities of the different aircraft.

During the exercise, US forces will work closely with their Bulgarian counterparts to increase interoperability between pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen.

The Bulgarian base commander Brigadier general Tsanko Stoykov said that: "Bilateral training is important for us at Graf Ignatievo because it gives us a chance to implement new tactics and procedures and increase our combat capabilities."

"It also gives us a chance to improve our interoperability with our NATO allies and partners," Stoykov added.

Thracian Star 2012 joint training exercise is scheduled to take place from 17 April to 11 May 2012.